December 24th, 2025
You’ve probably heard of the “prince of preachers,” 19th-century Baptist minister Charles Spurgeon. Most also know the name Billy Graham, nicknamed “America’s Pastor,” because of his profound impact on 20th-century evangelicalism. Both men enjoyed a wide-ranging influence because of their unique ability to communicate the Bible. But have you ever heard of the greatest preacher of the early church, nicknamed “the golden mouth”?
John Chrysostom (349-407) was born in Antioch and spent most of his life there, becoming a presbyter around the year 381. Antioch boasted a rich heritage, founded by the Greeks three hundred years before Christ, and then chosen as a great base for missionary advance by the first Christians (see Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3). By the time of John Chrysostom, the city was large, diverse, and needy. While there were plenty of Christians, various pseudo-Christian sects (like the Arians and Apollinarians) had infiltrated the culture. What’s more, many Christians were being drawn away by worldly pleasures, easily accessible to the everyday citizen, much like they are today.
John targeted cultural and doctrinal compromise with sermons that were practical, confrontational, and expository. Over a thousand years later, reformer John Calvin would write, “No one of sound judgment would deny that our Chrysostom excels all the ancient writers currently extant. This is especially true, when he deals with the New Testament.”[1] Calvin followed Chrysostom’s method of preaching through the Bible book by book, a practice called expository preaching today.
Most of John Chrysostom’s preserved works are sermons from specific passages of Scripture. For example, his Homilies on Matthew are the oldest and most complete set of expository sermons of the early church.[2] In addition, this golden-mouthed preacher gave special messages on Feast Days. Though a “new” feast day, Christmas was clearly a favorite. In one sermon, he dubbed it “the most solemn and awe-inspiring of all feasts…the metropolis of all feasts.”
On Christmas Day, he exhorted his congregants to celebrate Christmas with great joy:
Celebrating Christmas and the Incarnation of the Son of God was, to John Chrysostom, an answer to his prayers:
Although it came late in joining holy Pascha (Good Friday and Easter), the Ascension, and Pentecost, celebrating Christmas should not be debated as a “new innovation,” he believed, but should be celebrated for its meaning and significance. In another Christmas Day sermon, John gave this plea:
As we enjoy Christmas this week, let us not forget “that awe-inspiring and miraculous sight” – the baby in the manger is our Master, Savior, and King!
[1] Quoted in John Chrysostom: The Golden-Mouth Preacher | Christian Research Institute
[2] Ibid.
[3] John Chrysostom - Homily on the Date of Christmas
[4] Ibid.
[5] https://aleteia.org/2018/12/09/why-st-john-chrysostom-loved-the-feast-of-christmas
John Chrysostom (349-407) was born in Antioch and spent most of his life there, becoming a presbyter around the year 381. Antioch boasted a rich heritage, founded by the Greeks three hundred years before Christ, and then chosen as a great base for missionary advance by the first Christians (see Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3). By the time of John Chrysostom, the city was large, diverse, and needy. While there were plenty of Christians, various pseudo-Christian sects (like the Arians and Apollinarians) had infiltrated the culture. What’s more, many Christians were being drawn away by worldly pleasures, easily accessible to the everyday citizen, much like they are today.
John targeted cultural and doctrinal compromise with sermons that were practical, confrontational, and expository. Over a thousand years later, reformer John Calvin would write, “No one of sound judgment would deny that our Chrysostom excels all the ancient writers currently extant. This is especially true, when he deals with the New Testament.”[1] Calvin followed Chrysostom’s method of preaching through the Bible book by book, a practice called expository preaching today.
Most of John Chrysostom’s preserved works are sermons from specific passages of Scripture. For example, his Homilies on Matthew are the oldest and most complete set of expository sermons of the early church.[2] In addition, this golden-mouthed preacher gave special messages on Feast Days. Though a “new” feast day, Christmas was clearly a favorite. In one sermon, he dubbed it “the most solemn and awe-inspiring of all feasts…the metropolis of all feasts.”
On Christmas Day, he exhorted his congregants to celebrate Christmas with great joy:
“There is something which long ago patriarchs painfully longed for, prophets foretold, and the righteous set their hearts on. Now it has come to pass and had its consummation today. God was seen on earth through flesh and dwelt among humankind. So then, beloved, let us rejoice with great gladness. For if John leapt in his mother’s womb when Mary visited Elizabeth, consider that we have actually seen our Savior born today. So now we, much more, must leap, rejoice, and be full of wonder and astonishment at the grandeur of God’s plan which exceeds all thought.”[3]
Celebrating Christmas and the Incarnation of the Son of God was, to John Chrysostom, an answer to his prayers:
“Long ago, I set my heart on seeing this day, and not just seeing it, but seeing it with such a great gathering of people. I continually prayed that our place of meeting would be filled just as we now see it filled. So this has come to pass and had its consummation. Although it is not yet the tenth year since this day became clear and familiar to us, through your zeal, it has now flourished as though it was given from the beginning many years ago. Because of this one would not be far wrong in saying that it is both new and old: new because it has only recently been made known to you, old and venerable because it has swiftly become similar in stature to days long recognized, and it feels as though it is of similar age to them.”[4]
Although it came late in joining holy Pascha (Good Friday and Easter), the Ascension, and Pentecost, celebrating Christmas should not be debated as a “new innovation,” he believed, but should be celebrated for its meaning and significance. In another Christmas Day sermon, John gave this plea:
“On this account especially, I embrace and love this day, and put my ardent love on show to make you share in my affection for it. On this account, I beg and entreat all of you to be present with much zeal and enthusiasm, each having vacated your own house, so that we may see our Master lying in the manger, dressed in swaddling-clothes – that awe-inspiring and miraculous sight.”[5]
As we enjoy Christmas this week, let us not forget “that awe-inspiring and miraculous sight” – the baby in the manger is our Master, Savior, and King!
[1] Quoted in John Chrysostom: The Golden-Mouth Preacher | Christian Research Institute
[2] Ibid.
[3] John Chrysostom - Homily on the Date of Christmas
[4] Ibid.
[5] https://aleteia.org/2018/12/09/why-st-john-chrysostom-loved-the-feast-of-christmas
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